I had fun last Christmas season of 2011 in Northern Mindanao. We did white water rafting in Cagayan de Oro (CDO), toured around Camiguin, visited the waterfalls of Iligan City and swam with the dolphins in Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park. – That’s what I wanted to tell you. Unfortunately, typhoon Sendong rampaged all over CDO and Iligan that’s why instead of visiting the tourist spots around Northern Mindanao we decided not to cancel our flight and volunteer.
It was a good thing that I met Lai Mirasol of PinayTravelista.com through Pinoy Travel Bloggers. She’s a member of Iligan Bloggers Society, Inc. (IBS) who were doing relief efforts for the victims of Typhoon Sendong in Iligan City, so we decided to volunteer there.
What I liked about Iligan Bloggers Society, Inc. Relief Efforts
Accounting, Accounting, Accounting – While waiting for something to do in their headquarters one of them approached Sir Pat, a member of IBS, and recorded some receipts they got when they purchased some relief goods. When I went with them to purchase some pales, dippers, spoon and fork, plates and other stuff we waited for a looooong time for the official receipt. It was all for accounting. Every centavo that was donated to them counts and is accounted for.
Surveys – Before we go to areas where we will be distributing the goods they would first send a team to the area to do a survey so they could estimate how many we should bring. Unfortunately, many of the victims are not interested with the surveys. Most of the time when we get to the place, the people lining up is more than the expected number of people.
Orderliness – IBS would make people line up before they distribute the goods. This is to avoid people fighting for the goods which could result into injury.

Repacking of Plates, Pails, Cups, Spoon and Fork at Iligan Bloggers Society Headquarters
Respect for Authority – When we went to an Evacuation Center we did not setup tables and distributed the goods immediately. They would first ask permission to the Officer in Charge of the Evacuation Center before they distribute and give medical assistance.
Medical Assistance – Since IBS has members who are in the field of nursing they would setup medical assistance tables where people would line up and have their wound cleaned. Sometimes they would have doctors with them so that they could also prescribe medicine. IBS would only give prescription drugs if and only if they had a doctor with them.
Health of the Volunteers – They gave out multivitamins for the volunteers to boost our immune system. For every location we went they gave us masks to cover our mouths and nose.
Purity of Relief Efforts – All the vehicles that we used and goods distributed did not have banners that says the name of the organization. They did not spend a centavo for banners, it was all spent on the things they needed to efficiently and effectively help the victims.
Fun, Fun, Fun – IBS volunteers were a lot of fun during the relief efforts. We would always tell stories and laugh. Especially the fun and hyperactive Ma’am Jeddy. There was also the youngest volunteer who was only a year and 3 months old. She was soooo cute that when a typhoon victim shouts, I just look at the baby girl smiling and I could look at the shouting typhoon victim with a smile. π
Accompanying Christian Compassion Ministry (CCM) Surveyor
My dad called me and asked if I could accompany Erwin Cadalin, a surveyor from CCM. Erwin also volunteered for IBS and after volunteer work we would hire a habal-habal to go around the areas of Hinaplanon, Bayug Island and Orchid Homes to do interviews with the victims. According to Erwin, CCM’s plan was to give long term needs for the people affected by the flood that’s why he was doing a survey to personally see what they could help.

One of the few houses left in Bayug Island
Seeing from pictures and television was way-way different from seeing the destruction personally. When you get to talk to people who built their homes for years only for it to be taken in a single night is heartbreaking.
I hope that Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro could move on from the tragedy of Typhoon Sendong.
To Iligan Bloggers Society and Christian Compassion Ministry, keep up the good work!

Iligan Bloggers Society Volunteers
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Great and admirable deed Josiah, Lai Marie, Iligan Bloggers and everyone else. π
Thanks Marky! π
Kudos to you Josiah, Lai and the rest of the IBS!
Thanks Mervz! π
one of the bloggers I respected so much. thank you Josiah for taking your time out to drop by and help Iligan and the IBS.
May God continually bless you to serve more.
Happy New Year
Thanks Sir Wendell! Happy New Year din sa inyo. π
Very wonderful Christmas 2011 indeed Josiah. More meaningful than just visiting tourist attractions, you got to interact with the people who will help rebuild, improve and sustain those tourist attractions π
Yes JC! So far this has been one of the best Christmas I’ve had. π
Thanks again for volunteering Josiah! Bilib ako sayo, you didn’t just show up but really pushed through til your vacation-turned-volunteer ended.. Galing! Lingaw kaayo mo ni Dame kasabay.. Sa susunod, hinaot unta laag nah og dili relief efforts atong masabayan.. (please translate) LOLs!
O nga pala.. May docu team nah! To document the extent of damage by Sendong.. Sana may aerial… … .. .
Hahaha! Sana nga sa sunod pasyal-pasyal na yung gawin natin to help promote Iligan. Ako nga ang bilib sa inyo, for 9 days na nandun ako sa iligan ni isang beses hindi ka nagmintis sa pagvolunteer. haha Maraming salamat sa pagtanggap sa amin as volunteers. π
Abangan ko yang docu niyo. π
i love charity work too. sarap ng feeling after diba? Meaningful talaga kapag nakatulong ka . I myself appreciate little things in life kaya i am sure mas madami ang blessings na matatangap mo.
Definitely iba ang sarap ng feeling ng charity work, maslalo na sa mga sakuna tulad na nangyari sa Iligan. Thanks JuanderfulPinoy. π
Isa ito sa mga gusto kong balikan, ang social/charity work. Naalala ko nung panahon ng Ondoy at wala pa ako dito, nababalitaan ko kung paano nag-tulong-tulong ang lahat. I got a bit frustrated for being miles away not having the capacity to do anything. I wish to do this but I am not wishing for another tragedy though.
Great efforts.
such great act to do volunteer work. wish i could have helped out, too. kudos to you, to IBS and CCM π